>> jennifer: good morning, everyone. welcome to current's coverage of the inauguration of president barack obama. i'm jennifer granholm joined in new york by john fuglesang, host of "viewpoint." >> good morning. >> jennifer: current political analyst michael shure is joining us from portland, oregon, of all places. we'll also have bill press and david shuster reporting for us from washington, d.c. they're on the ground and also have today current contributor michael hastings, the author of "panic 2012, the sublime and

terrifying story of obama's campaign." we'll talk about that a little bit as well. so excited you guys. this is the best of what america has to offer in terms of pomp and circumstance and marking a point in history. do you not agree? do you love this? >> john: i couldn't agree more. it is a pleasure to be here as a contributor to this network which has spent so much time covering this campaign but also of history. i love inauguration day because it really -- it is the one day that brings the past and future completely together. we're following the most contentious, most expensive presidential campaign in history. and there's so much to talk about in terms of the past and what brought us to this day and all of the different people both for and against the president who led to this moment. as well as the question marks of what the next four years represent. and how will the second term be different. how will the president himself be different in his demeanor and approach. i can't think of any greater honor than to be spending this

day with the person who gave the greatest speech at the democratic national convention. >> jennifer: stop it. the last president gave a really good speech. >> there is a cameo of the governor in the book, panic 2012 -- >> jennifer: here, i gotta show you. it is in ebook. >> we're working on getting paperback copies out. they spent hours watching it over again and reciting the lines. huge fan. honor to be here. >> jennifer: anyway, so the great thing about this is we're going to be bringing you on the on-going coverage. we'll be showing it behind us at many points of this morning. already this morning, we have had the university choir singing from tennessee at the invitation of senator lamar alexander. right now playing is the united states marine band often known as the president's band because

they are performing constantly at events at the white house. and they are magnificent, might i say. >> john: indeed. i'm a big fan of the harmonica. >> jennifer: the harmonica? >> john: every kid gets a marine band harmonica as a kid. >> jennifer: who knew. great thing about the marine band is i can tell you, governor every year, the president has a state dinner, of course, where he invites the governors to come. it is inside of the white house. you sit at these ten top tables. the marine band comes at one point in the dinner, comes through the room, parking in between -- standing in between the tables and playing masterpieces of american -- obviously history, patriotic tunes. it is completely goosebump inspiring. they're magnificent. >> john: it is a parth of the pomp i really like it. is easy to pooh-pooh it and say

it is too much ceremony. this is where what we have been and will be comes together in a confluence of events. for all of the celebration, it is a great time for criticism of policy, celebration of victory and really, you know, i like the patriotism of the event. i think that it's really -- you know, it's's chance to show by having the marine band playing for its two-time elected democratic president, to say nothing of the first african-american president, it brings together all of the best about this country. >> jennifer: you can see where they're playing from. they just had a shot of actually -- actually from inside the view of a tuba. they had a shot of them, they're up on the platform which is elevated, right. overlooking the mall. so it is a beautiful spot for them to be. right above them is where the president will take the oath. that's where all of the elected officials are seated, where they're seated as well. marine band will be playing for quite awhile here. almost an hour of the lead up to the inauguration.

>> it is an aaron sorkin kind of day. west wing kind of day. a day where ritual and politics becomes an important part of keeping the democratic tradition alive. as someone who sometimes sat on the cynical side of things. clearly, it is a representation of the imperial presidency. >> jennifer: we're seeing dick durbin walking right now into the steps, as he's going up, he was obviously a lead player in so much of the putting together of today as well as chuck schumer. let me bring in quickly david shuster who is on the ground in washington, d.c. david, where are you perched? >> governor granholm, we're at 7th and madison. i'm personally thrilled to hear that the marine corps band has been the start of our coverage as opposed to beyonce, kelly clarkson and james taylor. we're going to hear from them as well but you're right, the marine corps band goes back to 1790s, back to the time of george washington. part of the official sort of vibe that we're going to hear

this morning. we're at 7th and madison, about seven blocks from the reviewing stand, from the area where president obama and the dignitaries are -- 1500 dignitaries will be seated around president obama. what they've done is because of security, they've pushed the median -- a lot of folks are further back. they divide the mall into sections. it requires a certain level of security to get up close. a little less security to be further back where we are. based on the crowds that we're seeing and we should keep in mind it is about 40, 42 degrees, not a bad day here in washington. we're probably expecting about 800,000 or 900,000 people. it will not be jammed the way it was for four years ago for president obama's inaugural when there were about 1.8 million. i can tell you having been down here four years ago, the crowd here is nothing compared to what it was then. there's still very much of a festive atmosphere. a lot of people who are happy to be witnessing history, to be seeing their president inaugurated for the second time. >> jennifer: you are in a

great spot because you get the reverse look of what the president is seeing. so we get to see it from both ends of the mall. i can tell you from somebody who was there at the other side of that last time, the sea of people from that vantage point perched up high was amazing. and it looks like behind you, there is actually a good number that have gathered. 1.9 million last time and maybe a little bit less than half of that expected. any time you get close to a million, you've got a lot of folks. >> yeah. you know it is close to a million -- here we are seven blocks away. it is a sea of people for the seven blocks going to the capitol. four years ago, it was all the way back to the lincoln memorial, it was packed with people. governor granholm, you remember from four years ago, in order for everybody on the mall who -- face it, i mean as far as the natural -- unless you have binoculars from here, you can't see what's going on on the west wing of the capitol. every block or so, they have the

giant judge bow ton -- jumbotrons so everyone only has to look about a block to see the giant screen so they can both see and hear what's going on. >> jennifer: only about 35 degrees. i don't see much condensed air coming out of your mouth so it must be a little bit warm. is it? >> yeah. the sun is out. it is probably closer to 40 degrees. i took the jacket off when i walked over here to get through the security because it was nice. it is going to be nice. they're expecting it may get a little bit colder this afternoon. maybe rain or snow tonight but people, you know, again, it is really an amazing atmosphere. the sun is shining. it is not as cold as it was four years ago. the conditions are pretty comfortable for everybody. >> john: david thank you so much. i'm glad you won't be freezing all morning long. >> absolutely. >> john: we'll check back with you shortly. governor, i was in d.c. over the weekend. you were, as well. while i was amazed at how nice the weather was, i was also amazed at how incredibly the city was with overjoyed people.

you don't normally think about a president's second inauguration as a time of great celebration. when you consider the amount of negative propaganda, the amount of dishonesty in the campaign that this president was up against which we've discussed on the air before was fairly unprecedented whether you support everything in this president's agenda or not. in many ways, i think it is an even greater accomplishment. when you consider what he was running against in 2008, that conceivably anybody could have beaten the republican running on the bush record then, many feel this is an even greater achievement to have gained re-election after four such contentious, difficult years. it is really reflected in just the exuberance of the crowd. i was really surprised. >> jennifer: probably the republicans left town. everybody there was -- hard-working supporter. >> john: we want to go over to michael shure in the great liberal town of portland, oregon, this morning. it is a pleasure to see you. it is very early where you are. how is your inauguration day going on the west coast?

>> john, it is very, very early but if you want to be in the heart of the inauguration action, you come to portland, oregon. >> jennifer: of course. >> i think the subtlety of michael hastings talking about what a great day this is for the emperial president could not be lost on us. it just speaks to what a real american tradition it is. it is a great way to look back at the history of our country at different times. to see taft and roosevelt on horseback going through, you know, horse and carriage going through the snow to their inauguration to seeing the end of the use of the top hat when jfk was inaugurated to seeing jimmy carter walk down when everyone thought the limo broke, he got out and walked. to see the -- as john pointed out, to see the reinauguration of our first african-american president, it is an exciting day for everyone in america. we broke from royalty hundreds of years ago now.

we still like a little bit every once in awhile. this is our day for that. >> john: michael, you bring up very good points. the poor horse that had to drag taft's carriage all those years ago. this is almost 224 years george washington was sworn in as our first president. i think it is fitting we have michael hastings here and that you're spending the morning in portland. one of our most progressive cities. this is a president-elected largely due to the grassroots work of progressives and liberals. many of whom had issues with his policies and still have but i think it goes to show whereas the republican party, one could argue was identified this year by purity tests, the democratic party shows you could be completely in the tank for this president's election while still taking issue with the policies. >> >> jennifer: janet napolitano walking. you can see the cabinets coming into the capitol. janet chewing a little bit of gum. we saw eric holder, tom vilsack. there is a great excitement when

you are a member of the cabinet being able to go -- especially if it is your last one. timothy geithner walking in right now. everybody sort of shuffling in. i'm sure they gather into a room before walking up together. >> janet napolitano is one of the unsing heroes of this administration. she gets a lot of criticism but she's done great things. the immigration reform was out of her office especially the response to hurricane sandy. >> john: if she hadn't left the governor's office of arizona, we wouldn't have jan brewer today. >> jennifer: on the west coast, michael, obviously it is early on the west coast. i know that progressives community has got their tvs all turned on to current tv to watch the crowds walking in. but what -- you know, i assume you're in portland for different reasons. >> yeah. i'm in portland for a different reason. as a matter of fact, i'll be in san francisco later today for

the rest of our coverage. and i'll see you on "the war room" i'm sure. the whole -- it's funny. yesterday, of course, they were marking the anniversary of roe v. wade. i was walking through this liberal city that i didn't know very well which i've come to like in the few days i've been here. i was walking through and there was a pro-life demonstration there. there was a smattering of people in the middle of pioneer square. not a big number of people there. i thought how ironic that tomorrow we're going to be inaugurating a president who has, again, john pointed out, elected by the liberals in this country who came out and really -- a lot of them very disappointed with his first term to be frank as we know. but who came out and voted and re-elected him. here i am in portland. liberal city that the sort of pro-life march. and rally. i went and stlood and listened to them. i felt like that was yesterday's america. you point out that people are watching current tv. this, for us, is also the

symmetry of our year with politically direct coverage. we started out the very beginning covering the republican debates. we didn't know who the president would be running against. here we are at the end seeing his inauguration. nice for us here at current as well. >> jennifer: it is. i have viewed it as a bit of a mission on our part to make sure this day arrived. we're going to take a quick break. we'll be back. we've got residents, historians, political analysts and of course the great coverage of the inauguration of president barack obama. stay tuned. the pomp, the circumstance, the insight and analysis. current tv presents the presidential inauguration plus insight into obama's second term. only on current tv. i think the number one thing that viewers like about the young turks is that we're honest. they can question whether i'm right, but i think that the audience gets that this guy, to the best of his ability, is trying to look out for us.

>> john: welcome back to current tv's coverage of the 2013 inauguration of president obama's term. i'm john fuglesang joined by jennifer granholm. we're thrilled to be with you providing play play by play brig you what's in the history and what's in the future. >> jennifer: thousands of people mobbing the capitol. >> john: former president carter and his wife, rosalyn showed up. it is a day of great history. it will be the first time the official invocation is given by a woman and by a nonclergy member as well at a presidential inauguration. it has been well documented that the president will be using two bibles when he's sworn in. one by abraham lincoln. one owned by martin luther king jr. those are the two men barack obama cites as his greatest inspirations. he's the fourth president to be sworn in using two bibles. likewise, the entertainment today as has been well documented, beyonce singing the

national anthem. james taylor will perform as will "american idol" winner kelly clarkson. she was an outspoken mitt romney supporter now here to celebrate the president's inaugural. i kind of feel like i need extra help. let's make history ourself for the first skype interview in the politically direct coverage of the 2012-2013 campaign season. to the great bill press right there on the ground in washington, d.c. good morning, sir. happy inauguration day. >> bill: hi, john. hi, jennifer. i'm so proud to make history on current tv today. i'm not the only one to do so today. >> jennifer: you're skypeing from the ground so you can give us some perspective. where are you located, bill? >> bill: well, if you are -- president obama standing at the podium, right, look out over the washington mall and you turn your head to the right, that's where bill press is. on the north media riser.

it is an excellent viewpoint. like you, we've been watching them. some of the key members of the president's administration come in and take their seats. i have to tell you, i've been to a couple of inaugurations. this reminds me of four years ago in that it is so festive. people here everywhere are having a great time. walking down here this morning from our studio on capitol hill. people were chanting barack obama. they're wearing their buttons. >> jennifer: we can see the justices of the supreme court. sorry to interrupt you. we were just watching feed of the justices of the supreme court walking in. sonya sotomayor, stephen breyer. bill, can you tell -- because of the weather, whether they've got warmers on the ground, have people been given blankets or has that been dispensed with because it is a fairly nice day?

>> bill: i think it's maybe mid-40s which for january in washington is pretty good. but i did notice on the platform, where the president and the first family will be sitting, they are putting blankets out on the chairs. blue blankets. so we'll see if anybody uses them. but in the crowd here today, people have their overcoats on and some people, not me are wearing woolen caps. >> john: bill, you're one of my favorite political reporters. you've proven yourself to be one of the keenest owners of all things political. is there anything you would really like to hear him touch upon today in his speech? >> bill: you know, that's -- thank you for the kind words, john. back at you. i have to tell you, as a progressive, i would love to hear the president get up today and say hey, guys, you know, we've tried to make nice to you. we've tried to work with you and

proved that doesn't work so we're going to go -- dare i say let's just say "full court press" on all of the issues we care about on immigration reform and on guns and doing something about gun violence and all of the big issues. global warming. you're either going to come with us or you're not. i doubt that's what we're going to hear from the president. he's not his style, my style or your style. i think what we're going to hear is he's going to -- stress today common ground. as americans, we agree on a hell of a lot more than we disagree on. that's our foundation. let's go forward with that. >> john: we're going to break away from bill press now to witness president clinton walking into the capitol building. we're looking forward to seeing him on the dais. it has been announced the bushes will not be attending this morning's inauguration. >> jennifer: not too much of a surprise. i want to pick up on the question of what we expect to

hear because bill is talking from the perspective of a progressive who actually reports out of washington, d.c. i believe that what we're going to hear today is -- you can hear the announcements at this point. the chiefs of staff arriving. i love it as though they announce them as though we're at the state of the state. >> he ran the war in iraq for two years. we have the other gentleman. >> john: very good. there is of course, reverend al. presidential contender himself back in 2004. i want to get back to the point you were just starting, governor. >> jennifer: i think he is going to remind those who are watching, which is all of america, not just congress, he's going to be speaking over their heads. he's going to be speaking to america. his issues that he's identified are issues that america wants him to solve. whether or not congress wants the resolution that he is proposing, i think he's going to speak about unity but american

unity and not necessarily democrats and republicans in a divide congress. michael, you covered this very divisive election. what are the themes you think he'll bring forward from that today? >> i think it will be a continuation of themes. essentially over the -- you know, two year campaign but really during the last six months, he made an argument to the american people, this is my vision. he believes and certainly his staff believes that by being re-elected, he has a mandate for that vision. he'll continue to see, as you said, there's not -- it is -- this is a classic obama moment going back to his 2004 democratic speech at the democratic convention in boston. there's not red states or blue states. this is a purple america. he will still try to stick to that message and bring as many of the recalcitrants of republicans. >> jennifer: there are a lot of them out there who feel like their party has left them like colin powell who has been on the talk shows the past couple of

days lamenting the fact that his party has left them. >> john: as richard takes his seat on the dais. campaign that had so much suspense. the greatest suspense of today will be what is in the president's speech. he mentioned global warming three times. will it be mentioned today? we'll be back with more guests and more coverage of president obama's second inaugural 2013. i'm john fuglesang joined by jennifer granholm. arguments to feel confident in their positions. i want them to have the data and i want them to have the passion. but it's also about telling them, you're put on this planet for something more. i want this show to have an impact beyond just informing. an impact that gets people to take action themselves. as a human being, that's really important. this is not just a spectator sport.

>> jennifer: this is jennifer granholm in current studios in new york covering the inauguration of president barack obama joined by john fuglesang, michael hastings and a cast of maybe millions on the washington mall, watching the president. hopefully watching the president. we're actually watching a series of people of muckity muck joining the capitol. naacp head just arrived. we saw harry reid probably going into chambers back there. they haven't started arriving yet. the governors apparently were just announced. they're starting to filter in and take their seats. this is a really exciting part of being an elected official is sitting up there. >> senator al franken. >> jennifer: you can see richard blumenthal from connecticut. john kerry of course. carl levin. >> john: a few moments ago, speaker of the house john

boehner entered, the most tan man in washington, d.c. in january. john mccain. >> jennifer: john mccain talking with dianne feinstein, i'm sure about gun control. cutting a deal right there. >> john: it is rather unseasonably warm today. i'm thankful for that for the folks who are there. >> jennifer: tammy baldwin. >> john: yesterday i was shocked at how warm it was. a lot of folks were expressing confusion as to why the president was sworn in yesterday. the constitution requires, of course, the president be sworn in on january 20th. since federal buildings and courthouses are closed on sunday, the ceremony is still scheduled for today on the 21st which happens to be dr. king's holiday. the president's second term officially began at 12:00 noon eastern time yesterday. >> led by kevin mccarthy. >> jennifer: john dingell.

god bless him. longest serving member of congress. over 50 years. his father served in congress, too. he has it in his blood. >> john: this is like the oscars for political. >> macy's day parade coverage. instead of blimps, we have politicos. >> john: what they've done with their careers. i kind of wish the oscars were a bit more like this. where we talked about people's achievements rather than their clothes. i want to go to david shuster down on the ground in d.c. david, can you hear us? what's the mood from your vantage point? >> reporter: the mood is very festive. we're starting to get more information about the president's inauguration speech. white house officials are making it clear that they see this speech as part of at package with the state of the union he will give to the joint session of congress on february 12th. what the president is going to do this morning, he's going to lay out broad principles, broad

themes in his inauguration speech about the second term and then he's going to fill in the details in the state of the union speech. part of what you're going to hear the president say, he's going to talk about our nation's history, the founding principles and values of this country and how we can learn from them as far as building up our nation now. the official theme of this inauguration, something we've known about for a couple of weeks is our people, our future. and white house officials have said that this means that our destinies are not written for us but by us. and that the strength of the united states depends on the strength of our people. expect the president in his speech today to talk about ways that we can make the american people stronger and thereby improve the overall strength of our country. >> jennifer: it's interesting. the idea of forming the message as a package, the notion that values will be identified in this speech and of course, the president is thinking about legacy. he would never say that but that really is what this is about. the language that's chosen in an

inauguration speech hopefully lasts not just for the four years but well into history so that we can call back in our old age, remember when president obama said these five words that were critical to moving forward. the notion that the state of the union then would have the specifics about what he's calling for to live up to that vision. the goals, you know, the mechanics and then the third piece of that package could be, for example, the budget message. how you're going to pay for it. we saw paul ryan walking in. >> john: former speaker gingrich, one of the unsung heroes of the re-election. i hope the obama campaign sent him a thank you. >> jennifer: stay with us. this is getting good for you political junkies. you gotta love it. don't go away.

we have a big big hour and the iq will go way up. (vo) current tv gets the converstion started weekdays at 9am eastern. >> i'm a slutty bob hope. >> you are. >> the troops love me. (vo) tv and radio talk show host

stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. >> you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. just be grateful current tv does not come in smellivision. the sweatshirt is nice and all, but i could use a golden lasso. (vo) only on current tv. >> john: welcome back to current tv's coverage of the presidential inauguration 2013. 64 years after harry truman became the first president to have an inauguration televised on american tv. it is a thrill to be here with you. i'm john fuglesang joined by the brilliant and heroic jennifer granholm and the almost as brilliant and heroic -- >> not even close, not even in the same league. >> jennifer: michael is one of the ung sung heroes of the campaign. he's the author of "panic inside 2012". it is an eback which is why michael doesn't have to wear a tie today.

you really have had a real insider's view of how this all happened. particularly in terms of the president's speechwriters. people you studied and gotten to know along the way. they're some of the unsung heroes of today with this speech that all eyes are on to see what the president's going to mention. what's your impression of these folks that make up this team? >> sure. >> john: as you're talking about this -- >> jennifer: of course, the star -- both of them. tammy baldwin and elizabeth warren coming down, very exciting moment. >> john: i should let the folks know today will be a contest to see how often we can interrupt each other to talk about visiting dignitaries? >> jennifer: tell us about the speechwriters. >> i got to know them and had a couple of bloody marys with them along the way. jon favreau, ben rhodes and cody keenan. ben rhodes usually takes the foreign policy side of things. jon favreau, he's usually most

involved in this big vision. >> >> jennifer: he's like 31 years old. >> cody keenan also young. he always plays a hand in this. my guess would be -- i haven't spoken to favreau about this. he would be working on this closely with president obama. they do the speeches up until the last minute. on the nobel prize acceptance speech, obama came down from his hotel room with a copy of the speech, went to the fourth floor and gave changes to make on the way over to receive the speech. that could be going on right now. >> john: these guys write the speeches in terms of overview. they're there for structure and tone but it is the president himself who decides what the final content is going to be and who makes the revisions he needs to. how deep his editorial involvement is. >> jennifer: if you're going to be true to who you are, as president, you have to -- you have to have input on this. the language has to come from you, naturally. he's a good writer.

obviously he's got significant opinions about what he wants to communicate. >> you see the best speechwriters can channel their guy's voice that seems so much so when they're explaining their ideas, they're first thinking how would he think about it? >> jennifer: michael shure, i think is still with us from portland. we know, michael, as epic politics man and somebody who is a great student of history. michael, since we're talking about the inauguration, i'm curious, what is your favorite bit of inaugural trivia? >> you know, well, there's so much inaugural trivia. i'll have it for you all day, governor. one of the things i find most interesting is the words "so help me god" don't appear in the constitution. they're not part of the oath. president chester arthur added them on to his inaugural oath upon the death of james garfield. so he added "so help me god." since then, it has been used.

it only started in fairly recent history the supreme court justice, whoever it is, whether it is the chief justice or one of the associate justices, adds it themselves. so the president repeats that occasionally "so help me god" or "so help me god" but it has been said for years. it would be a controversial thing for any president to drop it. >> jennifer: oh, my god, could you imagine if somebody dropped "so help me god," it would be as bad as what happened at the democratic convention. >> john: it is worth noting that not mentioning the almighty is the conservative point of view. that's how it was originally done. much like how under god was added to our pledge of allegiance. >> jennifer: tom daschle coming in with his wife. tom daschle is a behind the scenes very close ally of pete rouse who is in the white house making selections right now about cabinet members. tom is an official outside

adviser. got a lot of influence inside the white house. >> john: still much beloved by the democratic party. >> jennifer: you're a historian as well. what piece of inaugural trivia catches your interest? >> john: my dad was a history teacher. when i was good, he would bring me to d.c. for weekends. there's so many. the one that stands out the most is william henry harrison in 1840. our oldest president up until the time of president reagan's election, he spoke for two hours. without wearing his overcoat in a snowstorm, caught pneumonia and famously died 30 days later. our first president to die in office. but really, one of the most unique presidents is calvin coolidge. both of his made it into the history books. first as vice president, he became president when president harding died in office and coolidge was sleeping at his parent's home up in new england. his father was a justice of the peace, had to wake him up and let him know he was the president. he was sworn in by his own dad in the family living room. two years later, when he was elected after his own campaign,

he was historically sworn in by the only american president ever to have another career post-presidency as chief justice of the supreme court, william howard taft, our 27th president. you can see the photos out there of you know, the very famously large william howard taft in his justices robes, the former president swearing in the new one. >> jennifer: nice. behind us, we have ed markey and henry waxman, key players particularly on energy which will be a very important part, we hope -- i hope -- i hope you guys hope -- of the president's second term, especially as it relates to jobs and the economy. all right. so stay right with us because there is a lot going on. a lot of great, political faces to see. like peter king's right behind us. if you like the academy awards and you like politics, this is the place to be. don't go away.

> jennifer: welcome back to current tv's coverage of president barack obama's inauguration. we've got bill press who's on the parade grounds or on the grounds of the mall. we've got michael shure in portland, oregon. watch this feed right here of the presidential motorcade coming from the white house to the capitol and in fact, my favorite bit of presidential inauguration trivia is about the carriage that was built to transport martin van buren to his inauguration in 1837.

that carriage, unlike this cadillac, was constructed of timber from the dismantled u.s.s. constitution. can you imagine that? that carriage, obviously being hugely symbolic. very, very exciting moment as the motorcade arrives. >> john: i spent a lot of time in d.c. this year. if i could have unobstructed traffic to drive through like that, i would run for president myself. the only reason jimmy carter started walking is because it was easier to walk through d.c. >> john: he walked -- >> jennifer: he walked the whole parade route. are you there, bill press? >> bill: hi, jennifer. hi, john. >> jennifer: you probably can't see any of this motorcade coverage coming in but the crowds along the route are screaming. unless they're screaming for you, bill. >> bill: well, as i mentioned earlier, when we were talking about this festivity activity,

to see the motorcade, i can't see the coverage but i've seen it so many times. to see it leave the white house and then come up, and they drive rather slowly up to the capitol so everybody can get a good glimpse of it. it is majestic, a wonderful moment. it builds the excitement that you already feel around the capitol. as you can see on the podium, almost all of the honored guests have taken their places and we're ready for the big event to start. >> john: bill, we've been talking about our favorite inaugural trivia and history from martin van buren having a carriage made from wood that was part of the u.s.s. constitution to the harrison's two hour speech where he caught pneumonia and died. do you have a favorite moment of presidential inauguration trivia? >> bill: i learned about the constitution from jennifer granholm for which i'm grateful. three moments i actually remember. the first is that the first president to take the oath of office on this side of the

capitol, facing west, which, of course, people from california love the symbolism of was ronald reagan, former governor of california. beforehand, i can't believe it, all of the inaugurals were on the east side of the the capito. john, jennifer, you know it well. there's not that much room there. you can never get a million people on that side of the the capitol. i remember that moment. the other thing i just love is today, barack obama will become the first president to take the oath of office for the fourth time since franklin roosevelt. >> jennifer: amazing. >> john: very true. that's a piece of trivia that won't be matched any time soon. >> jennifer: while we're watching the inaugustral procession, the first president to actually ride in a bulletproof car was lyndon johnson in 1965, michael shure. the first president to ride in a car at all, excuse me, david

shuster, are you there? the first president to ride in a ceremony in a car was warren harding back in 1921. so shuster, can you see from where you are. you've got a unique spot looking back at the capitol. can you see any of that happening? >> yeah, we can see over to constitution avenue. can see the crowds blocked off. we can see the monitor. what i wanted to say about the motorcade is a couple of things. first of all, in order to prepare pennsylvania avenue for this path, they removed something like 25 different stoplights that were on poles and the other thing that they do as part of security is early this morning, the electric company and gas company will go manhole cover by manhole cover, prop them open, make sure nothing is underneath and put a little x of spray paint and we would it shut. they know that pennsylvania avenue has been cleared. so it is a fascinating process to get pennsylvania ready for this motorcade. the other thing i want to tell you is in my career, i've been

fortunate to ride in one of the presidential motorcades. it is like a flatbed truck providing a live picture of a limousine. i gotta tell you, it is an amazing sight because when you're in front of the limousine and you see the crowds line up along the street. you see members of the military, every five steps essentially, along the side of pennsylvania avenue and just the amazement that people have as they look at the presidential motorcade and they're trying to figure out which limousine -- it is just an amazing sight. for the camera crew, back of the flatbed truck, they is one of the most difficult jobs because right now, the thing is going a little bit faster than it will go during the parade. they're holding on for dear life making sure the camera is steady and that the producer doesn't lose his connection. it is an amazing trip. >> jennifer: this trip, this motorcade trip, when nixon was president, he actually wanted to make sure the route was perfectly clear of pigeons so what he ordered was that they spray the trees with this

product that was called roost no more. that would make the pigeon's feet hot so they would fly away. there wouldn't be pigeon droppings on the parade route. instead of the pigeon feet getting hot, the pigeons gobbled up the roost no more so instead of dead bird poop on the ground, they had dead birds on the ground. $13,000. >> john: even nixon had an enemy's list for birds. >> he knew he was trying to cover up the bird thing. >> jennifer: it was the start of something big. let's be clear about that. >> john: hey, david, we talked earlier about president carter and his wife, rosalyn were the first president and first lady to walk the parade route. they did the whole way. the obamas famously did about six blocks back in 2009. do you think we can expect to see more -- >> jill biden looking stunning. >> jennifer: jill biden is looking -- >> john: we can talk about who she's wearing.

that's fantastic. david, do you think we'll be seeing the obamas do a little more walking? >> jennifer: chief justice roberts is coming in, too. >> because of the security, there is one small area where they'll let the president get out of the limousine. that will be when the motorcade moves up -- >> jennifer: sorry, michelle obama arriving. you can hear the crowd. >> we'll talk about the motorcade in a second. they passed out american flags throughout the mall. it is quite a sight to see it literally all the way up to 10th and madison. just to see the sea of american flags. >> jennifer: as we are -- we head into break, we can watch the feed here of the supreme court justices arriving. of course, the two justices that president obama just appointed. elaina kagan, sonya sotomayor.

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tonight at 9 eastern. current tv's presidential inauguration coverage continues. the pomp, the circumstance, the insight and analysis. current tv presents the presidential inauguration plus insight into obama's second term. only on current tv. i think the number one thing that viewers like about the young turks is that we're honest. they can question whether i'm right, but i think that the audience gets that this guy, to the best of his ability, is trying to look out for us. >> jennifer: this is jennifer granholm. you're watching current tv's live coverage of the inauguration of president barack obama. you can see now the presidents

have started to arrive on the platform where the swearing in will take place. of course, president jimmy carter and his wife, rosalyn. we've been watching bill clinton and hillary clinton who we'll be joining very shortly as well as nancy pelosi, chuck schumer who were escorting president obama into the building. so very exciting moment. i'm joined by john fuglesang as well as we've got special guests, michael hastings of "buzzfeed" and eric boehlert of media matters. we're very excited that we've got such experts joining us on politics on the future, really, the message from this morning which is going to be very important for the next four years. >> john: indeed. great to have eric joining us. one of our great political contrarians and truth seekers. what are your thoughts on watching the president? >> first glimpse of how much more relaxed he seems now. it is so much easier when do you

it the second time. obviously he had the swearing in yesterday. sort of the pageantry. and you know, he reminds me of the portrait -- big smile on his face. he seems like he's ready to go. he's figured out a little bit how to deal with the republicans, how to deal with the city and he seems to have a plan. we'll see. >> jennifer: we'll see if we can hear them announcing right now that bill clinton and hillary clinton, the past president and the future president. >> some would say the former and the future. >> jennifer: arriving together. as they walked into the building, i was noticing that they -- obviously they have externalized their happiness. >> john: they have a lot to look back on and maybe a lot to look forward to. >> she's talking to the big obama donors. secretary clinton just got through some -- talk about

stress. that is one political figure who knows stress. >> jennifer: interesting. yesterday at emily's list, they had a big gathering in washington where all of the women who they helped to elect like elizabeth warren and tammy baldwin and claire mccaskill, everybody was there. there was a video there where all of the women were saying and next, a woman president. talking about how excited they would be for hillary. there are so many women across the country who are crossing their fingers hoping that she gets the rest that she needs so that she can gear up. i'm glad to hear that bill clinton is talking about it. >> john: maybe senator elizabeth warren for 2016. >> jennifer: you never know. check it out. look at that! fabulous. oh, my goodness. that looks awesome. >> john: it seems fair to say, this may be a bit more enthusiasm than the swearing in of president romney, would you say? >> i read today, romney's not

there. i guess he's the first since dukakis who lost and wasn't at the inauguration. a fair point, he doesn't live in d.c. just like dukakis didn't live in d.c. republicans would be just as excited. mall would be teaming with people. >> you're right. >> john: 1829 was the first time the departing president refused to attend. john quincy adams and andrew jackson had an ugly campaign. jackson blamed adams for the death of his wife over the stress of the negative campaigning. that was the first time in history the departing president was not present for the inauguration of his successor. >> she had a health scare. i don't know if the audience remembers that. this must be her first major public appearance since then. i'm not 100% on that. >> jennifer: pictures of her, coming back to her department, getting gifted with a big helmet from her staff as a joke. very clever. she obviously really enjoyed

that. it was interesting because this testimony on benghazi she's going to deliver this week, she's going to take full responsibility for the report that the department of state did about the failures of security in benghazi and once you take full responsibility and say she adopts the recommendations in that report, you move on. so while the republicans might be look at this as a moment to go after her, i think this week, we'll see that she'll move on. john kerry's hearing will be this week as well. to replace her. and all going well, i'm sure because his fellow senators, he will be sworn in the following week. >> i think with the benghazi, it will be hard for fox to regin that again. they've hit the reset button nine different times since september. they got susan rice. they were able to block her essentially. clinton is going to testify. that should be the end of it. >> john: in fairness, susan rice was never formally nominated for the position. >> they made it tough to put the

name forward. >> john: i think you're right, eric, the benghazi attack -- >> jay-z. jon that may prove to be the ground zero -- that they forget about following an election. >> as well as the general public. they were never buying buying tx news -- >> john: remember in 2001, that a terrorist attack against americans was cause to cheer the president, not smear a president. i think most people recognize the commander in chief was not the one responsible for that attack. and i think this is the first time we've ever seen a major figure in hip-hop on the dais. >> very good spot, too. >> john: it is another little piece of history here. >> i think e-z once went to the republican national convention. >> he did of nwa. of course, we'll see whose side eminem is going to come down on. >> jennifer: we'll take a quick break now because we don't want to disturb the coverage

when all of the ceremony actually starts. so stay right with us. so you can watch the full inauguration of president barack obama! here on current tv. ♪ the trucks are going farther. the 2013 ram 1500 with best-in-class fuel economy. engineered to move heaven and earth. guts. glory. ram.

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>> john: welcome back to current's coverage of inauguration 2013. you're seeing the president's daughters, sasha and malia as well as mrs. obama's mother take the stage. for many people, when the mother-in-law of the president actually moved into the white house, it seemed like the perfect moment for a sitcom.

that never happened. but the president's daughters now we've watched them grow up in the white house under four years under the scrutiny of the public eye. i think sasha had the greatest moment of the entire campaign yesterday when after he took the oath of office, she could be audibly heard congratulating her daddy for not messing up. >> jennifer: you know what's ironic about that. i was of watching another program this morning. they were offended that the president after he was done said to his daughter, i did it. as though i did it. i got elected instead of i got through this without messing up. because -- >> jennifer: exactly. it wasn't a we built this moment but famously, four years ago, the president made some -- omitted some words in the oath of office which is why john roberts had to give him the oath of office again the next day. that coupled with the fact that this year, inauguration day falls on a monday and he had to be sworn in yesterday is the reason why barack obama is the second president in history to be sworn in four times although unlike franklin roosevelt, it is just for two terms.

yesterday when sasha said and you didn't mess up, that's what the president was talking about. when he said i did it. >> jennifer: that's exactly right. you're seeing dr. jill biden coming in. i'm assuming joe biden won't be far behind. he has to enter with the president before the official shindig. there are, by the way, there are -- there is going to be a huge parade after this. there are like 28,000 seats on the parade route. there's 50,000 volunteers all making this happen. during the break, they were showing some images of people who were just out on the mall, very, very excited. >> we'll see how the crowd goes crazy when the president comes out, when the first lady comes out. one of the most amazing things about president obama is the immense love for him as the man, as the idea. i saw it every day on the campaign trail where you would have people literally pass out from excitement from seeing him. just being able to touch him. people say oh, president obviously needs secret service

to protect from the dangerous threats around him every day. one of the biggest threats is people love him so much, they would trample him and tear his clothes apart if they had the chance. that's why the country as a whole coming together to watch this as if it is the academy awards, as if it is the macy's day parade. that's about what he represents, how special it is to have a black president. to have him re-elected. >> interesting thing from the media coverage of the campaign, this is such a boring campaign. no one's having any fun. you look at those rallies and you think some of people are having fun. there are people excited about barack obama. >> the story speaks to all americans. >> john: this is the mixed race child of a single mom raised by his grandparents, granddad being a world war ii veteran, who worked hard and made his way through college, became an ivy league constitutional scholar. it is american dream on so many levels and really i like to remind my right wing friends who

has as much caucasian blood as african blood in his veins, he belongs to all of us. >> yet it feeds such paranoia on the right. they seem to have a seething hatred for him the way they had for bill clinton. it is unfortunate to watch. >> john: i'm ready to give jill biden's cote the aretha franklin's hat award. i think she looks terrific. >> jennifer: i'm proud none of us have asked "who are you wearing"? >> john: the oscars, they say who are you wearing. here, we say who are you representing? who are you working for? it is great to see this many americans so fascinated for an event that, in spite of the pomp and circumstance, really is all about substance. the oscars are where we celebrate great achievements in arts by talking about clothes. this is where we talk about policy and the future. >> jennifer: michelle obama is about to her make her entrance. she's become this incredible

fashion icon. a lot of us feminists who resent the fact a little bit that there's so much focus on how she looks and not so much on what's in her head because she's obviously this great, brilliant, strong woman. but i gotta hand it to her. she looks really great. she has done a lot for the fashion industry. the server crashed on people who wanted to get her green gloves after the last inauguration. so there is an element -- there is an economic policy element to her contributions to looking great. >> john: she's done for more bangs than the entire decade of the '70s. >> jennifer: the new do. >> john: that's a great role model to all americans. people talk about how she inspires african-american women. i know plenty of white men who are inspired by her. she's someone of intelligence and dignity and grace whose never once felt the need dumb it down to reach a bigger audience but always plays to the top of her intelligence with every

speech. in that sense, she's a great role model. >> jennifer: and is honestly down to earth. when she interacts with kids, talking with teen airings, doing her -- teenagers, doing her let's move. >> she's never lashed out. she's been the subject of some amazing ridicule on the right. always kept it very calm. which cannot be easy. >> john: to have someone in the white house leading the charge against childhood obesity, i look forward to seeing what her agenda will be in the second term. i would love to see her take it up a notch and talk about high fructose corn syrup. >> jennifer: i think she will be a real asset to him in an agenda in the second term. i was reading this morning she is going to pick that up. whether she -- the right will allow her to do that is another question. but it would be a shame not to use her incredible popularity to get this stuff done. >> john: we've seldom see a first lady enter with this much political capital of her own. she's a much less controversial

figure than mrs. clinton was and a much more outspoken figure than mrs. bush. i think it will be interesting seeing where she goes politically during the next four years. >> jennifer: we're seeing the on-deck circle, joe biden getting teed up to make his entrance into the room. just a quick thought about michelle obama. i hope we get a chance to talk about this. the obama administration has now geared all of the volunteers to a new organization called organizing for action. and michelle obama was the first person to make a message for organizing for action. over the weekend, gave a very strong pitch for getting america involved in passing this agenda. again, going over the head of congress and making sure that americans have a to do list as well in terms of persuading congress to get these pieces and policy done. >> john: david shuster who is not freezing because it is an unseasonably warm day. david, how is it down there for you in the crowd? are people getting hopped up to a fevered pitch now that the big guns are starting to roll out?

>> i think people are excited. we've got all of the flags. crowd is back to about 12th street. certainly filling up. one thing i wanted to point out as you look at the amazing pictures from inside the capitol, the obama campaign, some of the remnants of the obama campaign, the board of directors helping to put together the inauguration. one of the things they recognize is that you provide more television access, you make it a more compelling event. so this is one of the first inaugurations in the seven i've covered in washington where not only can you see them walking down the stairwell, you can hear them. you can hear the chatter. that was not because they wanted to do any favors for the media or the press but the people who were in charge of the obama campaign, in charge of putting together this event, they thought this will make it an even more compelling event. add a little more humanity. you can hear the chitchat as they walk out on to the stand there. it is an amazing production that they put together. this one is really unprecedented not only because of the campaign

but also because of the efforts with the joint inaugural committee chaired by senator chuck schumer who, of course realizes this will make it more compelling for people to watch. if you provide this intimate access to everybody walking out of the capitol. >> jennifer: david, i understand the judge bow trons -- the jumbotrons, they're 21 feet. of course, biden is coming out now. all of the people who are on the mall now able to watch hick descend on the jumbotrons. i'm going to find out the number out there. here we go. >> accompanied by martina bradford. carrie hanley. senate majority leader harry reid and house democratic leader nancy pelosi. >> all of the women that are surrounding joe biden. excellent.

>> jennifer: here he comes. president is moving into the on-deck circle. >> john: interesting to see how joe biden takes it up more notches in the next few years. his trajectory has been fascinating to see how he went from being the butt of a lot of unfair jokes on the right and left. >> >> jennifer: secret weapon. unbelievable. >> more people wondering what are his plans in four years. >> jennifer: he invited the governor of new hampshire to his private swearing in ceremony. as well as some iowa people. so you know, he's 70 years old. that would be the oldest president inaugurated. hillary was 69 which matches what reagan was in his inauguration. >> john: i haven't seen so much ageism when mccain ran. he had more energy had inn his

70s than most 40-year-olds. he proved that -- >> jennifer: 70 is the new 50. >> john: he will still be younger than paul mccartney and bob dylan. >> jennifer: that's a good benchmark. president looking serene there wearing his blue tie. looking tall and -- very interesting moment. >> when the president -- he says he chooses his blue suit or his gray suit but he tries -- he tries to have a navy suit all the time and blue tie or red tie. he tries to keep it very simple. only two decision every morning. >> john: in the tradition of einstein. i would like to ask both eric and michael, do you think there is ever a moment that barack obama had doubts about his re-election? do you think he ever saw governor romney as a serious threat or do you think that he has been competent of his organization? >> what do you think? >> i think that after the 47% video with mitt romney came out, everybody in obamaland was redecorating their offices for

the second term. they thought they had it locked up. >> john: not until then? >> they were confident. they actually were pretty confident. that was when after that, i had quotes from people saying look, anyone who said we had doubts after that is lying to you. then of course, denver. that shook everyone very profoundly. >> john: you should have been in this room. we were surrounded by democrats that were disturbed. >> jennifer: are you looking at me? >> john: no one had more faith. >> jennifer: i was bummed, too, believe me. >> not to keep shamelessly plugging the book which i'm going to shamelessly plug, we talked about what they felt about it. >> jennifer: here we go. the big moment. the president is coming through right now. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states, barack h. obama accompanied by staff director for the joint congressional committee of ain augustral ceremonies, jean borowitz. sergeant at arms, terrence gainer. house sergeant of arms, paul irving. chairman of the joint

congressional committee, senator charles e. schumer. senator lamar alexander. the speaker of the house of representatives, john boehner. harry reid. house majority leader eric eric cantor and house democratic leader nancy pelosi. i think when he saw the crowd, he said hey. >> john: i don't think i've seen a president as happy and relaxed looking since nixon. if you recall the footage, i was just a baby at the time. he came down in a tweed jacket. it is often an occasion for -- i like seeing a president smile on a day like this.

>> michelle obama behind her, valerie jarrett. true inner circle. his two children and valerie jarrett. >> john: you would say the president who doesn't have enough women advisers. >> jennifer: he's surrounded by estrogen. it is awesome. >> john: eric cantor, a smiling eric cantor. >> jennifer: eric cantor in the background. symbolism there, looming in the background. >> john: the image that john boehner looks at every day, i think. now, the vice president's swearing in will occur first, correct? >> jennifer: yes. >> john: followed by the president's. >> more joe biden trivia, vice presidents biden paid tribute to the younger version of joe biden. the onion has the joke about joe biden with the point on the trans am and vice president tweeted for the onion. >> >> jennifer: what was the joke? >> i think he said actually, i

drive a camaro or something like that. >> the onion has some of the funniest joe biden humor. it is interesting to note this is the 57th inauguration, the first one of george washington took place in new york city which was our nation's first capital. jefferson was the first to be inaugurated. it took place inside the capitol, not outside. >> jennifer: washington had the shortest address. something like 100 words. lincoln's was the next shortest which is 701 words. >> john: if you watch the excellent mini series on john adams, david morris played washington. funniest scene when he gave his address. he was so soft spoken. all of the onlookers have to lean in to hear. i think obama will have slightly better amplification today. we just saw him kiss sonia

sotomayor placed there by him. we will be coming back after this break with more from inauguration 2013.

>> jennifer: welcome back to current to's coverage of the inauguration of president barack obama. i'm here with john fuglesang. michael hastings of "buzzfeed," eric boehlert of media matters and we're watching the actual proceedings now. chuck schumer, senator schumer of new york is the chairman of the inauguration and he is kicking off the ceremony right now by making some introductory remarks. he will be the master of ceremonies for this. we'll take a little bit of a listen to him. >> despite the conflict which engulfed the nation and surrounded the city, the dome continued to rise. on december 2, 1863, the statue of freedom, a woman, was placed atop the dome where she still stands today.

in a sublime irony, it was a former slave, now free american, phillip reed, who helped to cast the bronze statue. now, our present times are not as perilous or as despairing as they were in 1863, but in 2013, far too many doubt the future of this great nation. and our ability to tackle our own domes. today's problems are retractible. the times are so complex, the differences in the country and the world so deep. we will never overcome them. when thoughts like these produce anxiety, fear and even despair, we do well to remember that americans have always been and still are a practical, optimistic, problem-solving people. and that, as our history shows, no matter how steep the climb, how difficult the problems, how

half-finished the task, america always rises to the occasion. america prevails and america prospers! [ cheering ] >> jennifer: to say that of course, all of the speeches are coordinated for this, like they are with the democratic convention. the messages that we're hearing from chuck schumer about overcoming, prevailing, optimism, will be bits of reflections i think of what you will hear in the president's speech. >> john: indeed. chuck schumer senator from our great state here in new york. really an indispensable ally to the president. most would agree when chuck schumer came down on the side of voting for chuck hagel as defense secretary, that sealed the deal, would you gentlemen agree? >> yeah. i never could envision how he would start obama's second term by coming out and going against chuck hagel for secretary of defense. never made any sense and yeah, once he came out, the story ended. i loved the media chatter about how hagel has this huge

confirmation battle and will end up with 90 votes. schumer was the first and final voice on that, i think. >> john: i think that was more due to the alleged controversy over comments about the israeli lobby by hagel unfortunately called the jewish lobby. chuck schumer one of our most powerful jewish members of the senate. >> i was surprised. even this morning, i was watching tv. there were anti-chuck hagel ads being run by this -- one interest group. i was quite shocked. they went after him for the israel, for comments he made about -- >> myrlie evers, widow of the late, great myrlie evers. >> america, we are here, our nation's capitol, on this day, january 21, 2013, the inauguration of our 45th

president, barack obama. we come at this time to ask blessings upon our leaders. the president, vice president, members of congress, all elected and appointed officials of the united states of america. we are here to ask blessings upon our armed forces, blessings upon all who contribute to the essence of the american spirit. the american dream. the opportunity to become whatever our mankind, womankind allows us to be. this is the promise of america. as we sing the words of belief, this is my country, let us act

upon the meaning that everyone is included. may the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of every woman, man, boy and girl be honored. may all your people, especially the least of these, flourish in our blessed nation. 150 years after the emancipation proclamation and 50 years after the march on washington, we celebrate the spirit of our ancestors which has allowed us to move from a nation of unborn hopes and a history of disen franchised votes to today's expression of a more perfect union. we ask, too, almighty that where

our paths seem blanketed by forms of oppression and rivelled by pains of despair, we ask for your guidance toward the light of deliverance. and that the vision of those came before us and dreamed of this day, that we recognize that their visions still inspire us. they are a great cloud of witnesses, unseen by the naked eye. but all around us, thankful that their living was not in vain. for every mountain, you gave us the strength to climb. your grace is pleaded to continue that climb for america and the world. we now stand beneath the shadow of the nation's capitol whose

golden globe reflects the unity and democracy of one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. approximately four miles from where we are assembled, the hallowed remains of men and women rest in arlington cemetery. they who believed, fought and died for this country. may their spirit infuse our being to work together with respect, enabling us to continue to build this nation. and in so doing, we send a message to the world that we are strong. fierce in our strength. and ever vigilant in our pursuit of freedom. we ask that you grant our

precedent, the will to act courageously but cautiously when confronted with danger and to act prudently but deliberately when challenged by adversity. please continue to best his efforts, to lead by example in consideration and favor of the diversity of our people. bless our families all across this nation. we thank you for this opportunity of prayer to strengthen us, for the journey through the days that lie ahead. we invoke the prayers of our grandmothers who taught us to pray god, make me a blessing. let their spirit guide us as we

claim the spirit of old. there's something within me that holds the reigns. there's something within me that banishes pain. there's something within me i cannot explain. but all i know, for example, there is something within. there is something within. in jesus' name and the name of all who are holy and right, we pray. amen. [ cheering ] >> jennifer: the symbolism of selecting myrlie evers williams cannot be overstated. of course, she -- because she is the widow of medgar evers who was gunned down in the driveway

of their home in 1963 in jackson, mississippi. she was the head of the naacp for many years. and she fought for 30 years to bring his murderers to justice. and she speaks here about incluesivity and about diversity and speaking to the whole of america, from the many, one notion of it again is enormously symbolic. the last thing i'll say about this is she invokes matthew, the chapter of matthew which says the least of these -- the 25th chapter of matthew. i know. that tells you that there is an expectation that this president is going to make sure there is a safety net in this country for vulnerable people. >> john: indeed. ♪ the truth is marching on

♪ mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord ♪ ♪ he is trampling out the vintage ♪ ♪ where the grapes of wrath are stored ♪ ♪ he hath loosed the fateful lightning ♪ ♪ of his terrible swift sword ♪ his truth is marching on ♪ ♪ glory, glory hallelujah ♪ glory, glory hallelujah

♪ glory, glory hallelujah ♪ his truth is marching on ♪ his truth is marching on ♪ in the beauty of the lilies ♪ christ was born across the sea ♪ ♪ with the glory of his bosom ♪ that transfigured you and me

♪ as he died to make men whole ♪ let us live to make men free ♪ our god is marching on ♪ glory, glory hallelujah ♪ glory, glory hallelujah ♪ god is marching on ♪ marching on ♪ glory, glory hallelujah ♪ glory, glory hallelujah ♪ glory, oh, glory hallelujah

♪ his truth is marching on ♪ marching on ♪ his truth is marching on >> jennifer: wow. >> john: the brooklyn tab irknackel choir -- tabernacle performing a gorgeous arrangement. brooklyn is represented by them and jay-z. >> jennifer: chuck schumer had something to do with that. those voices are professional untrained. it is a church choir.

>> please join me in welcoming my colleague and my friend, the senator from tennessee, the honorable lamar alexander. [ cheers & applause ] >> jennifer: another reason why there was a tennessee choir singing earlier. >> mr. president, vice president, ladies and gentlemen, the late alex haley, the author of "roots," lived his life by these six words. find the good and praise it. today, we praise the american tradition of transferring or reaffirming immense power in the inauguration of the president of the united states. we do this in a peaceful, orderly way. there is no mob. no coup. no insurrections. this is a moment when millions stop and watch. a moment most of us always will

remember. it is a moment that is our most conspicuous and enduring symbol of the american democracy. how remarkable that this has survived for so long in such a complex country when so much power is at stake. this freedom to vote for our leaders and the restraint to respect the results. last year at mount vernon, a tour guide told me that our first president, george washington, once posed this question... "what is most important, washington asked, of this grand experiment, the united states"? and then washington answered his own question in this way. not the election of the first president but the election of its second president. the peaceful transfer of power is what will separate our

country from every other country in the world. so today, we celebrate the 57th inauguration of the american president, find the good and praise it. now, it is my honor -- it is my honor to introduce the associate justice of the supreme court, sonia sotomayor for the purpose -- of administering the oath of office to the vice president. will everyone please stand. >> mr. vice president, please raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, joseph r. biden jr. do

solemnly swear. >> i joseph r. biden jr. do solemnly swear. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >> that i will bear truer faith and allegiance to the same. >> i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> that i take this obligation freely. without any reservation or purpose of evasion. and that i will well and fatefully discharge the duties of the office on which i am about to enter. >> the duties of the office upon which i am about to enter. >> so help me god. >> so help me god. >> congratulations. [ cheers & applause ]

♪ >> jennifer: we're going to do a quick break here. we want to make sure we're back for the swearing in of the president. do not go away! lots of interesting stuff to come. but especially the swearing in of the president.

tonight at 9 eastern. current tv's presidential inauguration coverage continues. the pomp, the circumstance, the insight and analysis. current tv presents the presidential inauguration plus insight into obama's second term. only on current tv. >>

♪ crowned thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea ♪ ♪ from sea to shining sea [ cheers and applause ] >> jennifer: unbelievable. all right. that was my second goose bumps moment. the president giving jt is standing ovation. [ applause ] >> it is my honor to present the chief justice of the united states, john g roberts, jr. who will administer the presidential oath of office. everyone please rise. [ cheers and applause ] >> john: one day books will be written about the relationship between this president and this

supreme court justice. >> please repeat your righting hand and repeat after me. i barack hussein obama do solemnly square, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and deserve. the constitution of the united states. so help you god. >> obama: so help me got. >> congratulations mr. president. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> john: a very relaxed president. >> jennifer: very relaxed. he seems very confident. they always do the ruffles and flourishing which is what you're hearing right now. there will be a 21-gun solute, which is happening right now,

and then senator schumer will introduce the president for his inaugur inauguraled inaugur inauguraled a address. >> john: we're hoping to hear words like poverty, climate change, and a sense of the agenda this president will have. a bit of a more muscular presidency at least for the first months. >> alexander seems like almost old school, someone you could talk to, obviously on the other side of the aisle. even mentioned we don't have insurrection even in this country, but if you read the blogs, you would think we do have insurrection in this

country. >> the president of the united states barack h obama! [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: thank you. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: thank you. thank you so much. vice president biden, mr. chief justice, members of the united states congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens, each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear

witness to the enduring strength of our constitution. we affirm the promise of our democracy. we recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the penance of our faith or the origins of our names. what makes us exceptional, what makes us american, is our allegiance to an idea ardr articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago. we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. [ cheers and applause ] >> that they are endowed by their creator with certain

unaleanable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. today we continue a never-ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. for history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self executing; that while freedom is a gift from god, it must be secured by his people here on earth. the patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. they gave to us a republican, a government of and by and for the

people. entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed. and for more than 200 years we have. to blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword we learned that no union could survive half slave and half free. we made ours anew, and vowed to move forward together. we determined that a modern economy including highways and railroads, schools and colleges to train our workers. together we discovered that a free market only thrivers when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play. together we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its

people from life's mishazards and misfortune. through it all we have never relinquishes our skepticism, our celebration of initiative and enterprise, our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility. these are constants in our character. but we have always understood that when times change, so must we. that fidelity to our founding principles requires new challenges to new responses. our individual freedom ultimately requires collective action. for the american people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone than american soldiers could have met the forces of communism or

fashionism are muskets. no single person can train all of the teachers we'll need for the future. now more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: this generation of americans has been tested by crisis that stilled our resolve and proved our resilience. a decade of war is now ending. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: an economic recovery has begun. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: america's possibilities are limitless for

we possess all the of the qualities this world demands, youth, drive, diversity, and openness, an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. my fellow americans we will made for this moment and we will see that so long as we seize it together -- [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: -- for we, the people, understand that our country cannot success when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: we believe that america's prosperity must rest on the brood shoulders of a thrivering middle class, when the wages of honest labor

eliminate families from the brining of hardship. a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows she has the chance to success because she is free and she is equal, not just in the eyes of god but in the eyes of our own [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: we understand that our programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. we must harvest new ideas, make our government revamp our tax code, revamp our schools, and empower our citizens to reach higher. but while the means will change our purpose endures a nation that rewards the effort and

determination of every american. that is what is required and will give real meaning to our creed. we, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure security and dignity. we must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: but we reject the belief that america must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: for we remember the lessons of our past when twilight years were spent in poverty and parents with a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. we do not believe in this country freedom is deserved for the lucky or happiness for the

few. we recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our liveings anyone one of us could suffer a job loss or a home swept away in a terrible storm. these things do not sap our initiative. they strengthen us. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: they do not make us a nation of takers. they free us to take the risks that make this country great. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: we, the people, still believe that our obligations as americans are not just to ourselves but to all prosperity. we will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the

failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science but none can avoid the fires droughts and more powerful storms. the path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. but america cannot resist this transcyst. we must lead it. we cannot succeed to other nations the power that will bring new jobs. we must claim its promise. our forests and waterways, our coplands and snow capped peaks; that is how we will preserve our

planet, commanded to our care by god. that is what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared. we, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle are unmatched in skill and courage. our citizens, seared by the memory of those lost know too well the price that is paid for liberty. the knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us vigilant. we turned sworn enemies into the

surest of friends and we must carry those times as well. we will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law. we will show the courage to try to resolve our differences peacefully. not because we are naive about the dangers we face, but because engagement can lift suspicion and fear. america will remain the anchor of strong alliances on every corner of the globe, and we will renew those institutions. for no one has a greater steak in a peaceful word than itsdz most powerful nation. we'll support democracy from asia to africa, because our consciousness compel us to act on those who long for freedom,

and we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginallized the victims of prejudice because piece in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes, tolerance and opportunity, human dignity, and justice. we, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths, that all of us are created equal is the star that guides us still, just as it guided our forbearers through seneca falls, and those young men and women who left footprints along this great mall to hear a peacher say we cannot walk along, so hear a

king say our freedom is inextrickably bound to every freedom of every honor. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: it is now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began, for our journey is not complete until our wives, mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, for if we are truly committed equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. our journey is not complete

until we find a better way to welcome the striving hopeful immigrants who still see america as a land of opportunity, unless young students are lifted in our work force rather than expelled from our country. [ cheers and applause ] >> obama: our journey is not complete until all our children from the streets of detroit to the hills of appalachian, to the twilights of nowtown know they are cared for and cherishes and always safe from harm. that is our generation's task, to make these words, these rights, these values, of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for every american. being true to our founding documents does not require us to

agree on every contour of life. it does not mean we all define liberty exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. progress does not compel us to settle centuries' long debate about the role of government for all time, but it does require us to act in our time. [ applause ] >> obama: for now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. we cannot mistake absolutism for principal, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name calling as reasoned debate. [ applause ] >> obama: we must act. we must act knowing that our work will be unperfect. we must act knowing that today's

victories will be only partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years and 40 years and 400 years hence to advance the timeless spirit once confirmed to us in a spared philadelphia hall. my fellow americans, the oath i have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this capitol, was an oath to god and country, not party or faction, and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service. but the words i spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant realizes her dream. my oath is not so different from

the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride. they are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope. you and i as citizens have the power to set this country's course. you and i as citizens have the obligation to shape the debate of our time not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient events and enduring ideas. [ applause ] >> obama: let us each now embrace with solemn duty an awesome joy what is our lasting birthright, with common effort, and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history, and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.

thank you and god bless you, and may he forever bless these united states of america. [ cheers and applause ] >> jennifer: so -- >> john: i have seen almost every major speech the president has given this year. this is the top. he does not believe america is an executival country, brings us through the entire history, into the 20th century, fashionism, he gives reference to his vision of government. and paid lip service to the

conservative element who is skeptical of federal government and brought it to the next 400 years. >> jennifer: and as we go around the table, kelly clarkson will serenade us from the backdrop. eric what is your thought? >> i thought that was the deaf situation of muscular liberalism. he started off with a democratic preface, okay, government isn't the answer to everything, but then he goes on to explain that government is the way we come together as one, the commitment makes us stronger. he took a shot at the taker argument when republicans sort of try to divide the country, talking about immigration, gay rights, and made a passing reference to gun violence, very liberal and very muscular.

>> jennifer: out of respect to the flag let's listen to kelly clarkson for a minute. ♪ land where my father died ♪ land of the pill gram's pride ♪ ♪ from every mountainside, let freedom ring ♪ ♪ let music swell the breeze, and from all the trees, sweet freedom's song ♪ ♪ let silence break the sound so

long ♪ ♪ to thee we sing ♪ with freedom

♪ let god us keep [ cheers and applause ] >> john: the most moving performance by the most high profile mitt romney celebrity supporter on stage, kelly clarkson. really moving. >> was she really? >> john: she was a mitt romney supporter. >> our next distinguished guest is the poet richard blanco, who will share with us words he has composed for this occasion. [ applause ]

>> mr. president, mr. vice president, america, one today. one sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores, peaking over the smokeys, greeting the faces of the great lakes, spreading a simple truth across the great plains, and charging across the rockies. one light waking up roof tops. under each one a story, told my our silent gestures moving across windows.

my face, your face, millions of faces in morning's mirrors, each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day, the pencilled yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights, fruit stands, begging our praise. silver trucks heavy with oil or paper, bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us, on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives, to teach geometry or ring up groceries, as my mother did for 20 years, so i would write this poem for all of us today. all of us, as vital as the one

light, the same light on blackboards are lessons for the day, equations to solve, history to question, or atoms imagined the i have a dream we all keep dreaming or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won't explain the empty desk of 20 children marked absent today and forever. many prayers, but one light, breathing color into stained glass windows, light into the faces of bronze statutes, warmth on to the steps of our museums and park benches, as mother's watch children slide into the day. one ground, our ground, rooting

us to every stalk of corn, every head of wheat sewn by sweat and hands, handing gleaning coal or planting windmills in deserts and hill tops that keep us warm, hands as warn as my fathers cutting sugar cane so my brother and i could have books and shoes. the dust of farms and deserts, cities and plains, mingled by one wind, our breath. breathe. hear it through the day's gorgeous den of honking cabs, buses launching down avenue news, the symphony of footsteps.

hear squeaky playground swings, training, and whispers across cafe tables. hear the doors we open each day for each other, saying, hello, shalum, bonjour know, howdy, buanas dias, in the language my mother taught me. one sky since the app lay chans claimed their imagine try, and the mississippi and colorado worked their way to the sea, thank the work of our hands, weaving steal into bridges,

finishing one more report for the boss on time, stitches another wound or uniform, the first brush stroke on a portrait, or the last floor on the freedom tower, jutting into the sky that leads to our resilience, one sky towards which we sometimes lift our eyes tired from work. some days guessing at the weather of our lives, some days giving thanks for a love that loves you back. sometimes praising a mother who knew how to give or forgiving a father who couldn't give what you wanted. we head home through the gloss of rain or weight of snow or the plum blush of dusk, but always,

always home, always under one sky, our sky, and always one moon like a silent drum tapping on every roof top and every window of one country, all of us, facing the stars. hope, a new constellation, waiting for us to map it, waiting for us to name it together. [ cheers and applause ] >> jennifer: that was a beautiful extension of the president's inaugural address. this has been like a church service for those of us who worship democracy. >> ladies and gentlemen, sit my

pleasure to introduce reverent doctor louise bione to deliver the benediction. >> let us pray. gracious and eternal god, as we conclude the second inauguration of president obama, we ask for your blessings as we seek to become in the wores of martin luther king, citizens of a beloved community, loving you and loving our neighbors as ourselves. we pray that you will bless us with your continued presence because without it hate re and arrogance will infect our hearts, but with your blessing,

we know we can break down the walls that separate us. we pray for your blessing today because without it, mistrust, prejudice, and ranker will rule our hearts, but with the blessing of your presence, we know that we can renew the ties of mutual regard which can best form our civic life. we pray for your blessing because without it, suspicion, despair, and fear of those different from us will be our rule of life. but with your blessing, we can see each other created in your image, a unit of god's grace, unprecedented,er repeatable, and irreplaceable. we pray for your blessing because without it we will see only what the eye can see, but with the blessing of your blessing, we will see that we are created in your image,

whether brown, black, or white, male or female, first generation immigrant american or daughter of the american revolution, gay or straight, rich or poor. we pray for your blessing because without it, we will only see scarcity in the midst of abundance, but with your blessing we will recognize the abundance of the gifts of this good land with which you have endowed this nation. we pray for your blessing. bless all of us. privileged to be citizens and residents of this nation with a spirit of gratitude and humility that we may become a blessing among the nations of this world. we pray that you will shower with your life-giving spirit, the elected leaders of this

land, especially barack, our president, and joe, our vice president. fill them with the love of truth and righteousness. endow their hearts with wisdom and forbearance, so that peace may prevail with righteousness, so men and women throughout this nation can find with one another, the fulfillment of our humanity. we pray that the president, vice president, and all in political authority will remember the words of the profit micah, what does the lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and always walk humbly with god.

[ speaking spanish ] . >> mr. president, mr. vice president, may god bless you all of your days. all of this we pray in your most holy name. amen. >> jennifer: a couple of firsts in there too. i wonder if that was the first time somebody has actually spoken spanish. >> john: i could hear rush limbaugh's head exploding all the way to new york. >> now our award-winning artist, beyonce, accompanied by the u.s. marine band. please remain at your place while the presidential party exits the platform. [ cheers and applause ]

♪ ♪ oh say can you see ♪ by the dawn's early light ♪ what so proudly we hail ♪ at the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ who's brood stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ through the perilous fight ♪ o'er the ramparts we watch

♪ were so gallantly streaming ♪ and the rocket's red glare ♪ the bombs bursting in air ♪ gave proof through the night ♪ that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ o'er the land of the free ♪ and the home of the brave

♪ the brave [ cheers and applause ] >> jennifer: a flawless ceremony except a couple of little blips. >> john: minor, minor blips. deeply moving, deeply packed with lots of little pieces we can unpack, and really very much a forward thinking ceremony and speech. i would one constant in the president's marks, the use of we. collective action, our generation, and i also have to take a moment to give an apology

to kelly clarkson, she did support the president. she was a ron paul supporter. she is a republican who voted for barack obama. >> jennifer: that's good to know. [ laughter ] >> jennifer: i like her even more now. i think the interesting part of this collection of presentations was the theme of all, and you describe it as we. the president starting with the words from the constitution, and i am just imagining justice scalia sitting there with such a heavy constitutional [ inaudible ]. emphasized that all men -- and i'm sure he would have said women too -- are created equal, and then proceeded in his speech to identify the inclusivity that he represents by bringing in the first use of the word "gay," by

any president in an inaugural address, bringing in women, hispanics. he went through all of it saying it's you the people have got to help us move forward. i think he just once again jumped right over the heads of congress but was strong and as you said muscular have pointed out how they have been disconnected from the american people. >> for a moment it exists in a bubble and everything can be worked out, and then two days later boehner can't get plan b voted on in his own caucus, but this is what america loves to see and longs to see in a leader, i think. >> jennifer: and he just completely laid it at the seat of congress by pointing out though difference.

>> it wasn't red meat -- he hit every major issue, climate change, women's rights, gay rights, and then even made a non-violent peaceful principals, which he didn't really do in his noble prize acceptance speech, but on marlin -- martin luther king day he did. >> john: one of the criticisms of this president from the left was that he has fallen short on some of dr. king's ideas. at the end of his life he was fighting for labor rights, milltism and poverty every much as civil rights. but in this speech this president addressed militarism,

beautifully, and we believe in enduring security and peace does not mean perpetual war. he spoke about poverty beautifully without ever actually using the word, but talking about we are not a nation of takers, and the fact that he would use the word stone wall and he wasn't referring to a dead general, i was floored. i feel comfortable saying that i think dr. king would have been very proud and impressed with today's speech. >> jennifer: i'm glad to here that. totally agree. we're going to take a break and bring you more analysis of the krer moanny. [ rosa ] i'm rosa and i quit smoking with chantix.

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>> jennifer: welcome back to current tv coverage of president barack obama second inauguration. and we have just seen the ceremony. the platform at which all of these festivities took place are emptying. both the president and the vice president as well as the members of congress who were up there. it was an incredibly unifying ceremony. a ceremony that really did emphasize we the people, and really emphasized how important it is to be united on very important goals for the country. this was a speech that was about values and a speech that references what we think will be policy initiatives that the president takes on as he gives the first state of the union

like gun safety, energy, as we referred to climate change. immigration, he clearly referred to that as well, and a foreign policy that is less about war and more about world peace. >> john: as well as lbgt equality. >> jennifer: right. and david shuster is going to give us his perspective. david, you there? >> yeah, a lot of excitement obviously. people were thrilled with beyonce's rendition of the star-spangled banner. but as far as reaction from the speech, we have heard from some progressives, a little disappointment in what he didn't say. there is a growing movement to try to get this administration to recognize d.c. statehood.

it has more members of the armed services than 20 states, and provides more money in federal tax revenue than 29 states. so the idea is if you are going to talk about democracisy, why not support democracy here in dc. >> jennifer: he is not going to talk about that during an inauguration. >> but the theory goes if he's willing to show some courage and talk about climate change which is not an easy issue politically for him to talk about, why not at least show some sort of verbal allegiance with the people of dc. >> john: david that would be lovely to see, however, this is a speech about all of america, not just the district of columbia. 12 years and 1 day ago, it was

george bush's people who took the washington, d.c. no taxation without representation off of the presidential limousine. >> right, you can have license plates or have a vote in congress for the district of columbia. but also this president, and they point out that there are certain elements of progressive democratic party saying this is a president who doesn't done enough; that there has been a certain erosion of civil liberties, and that sort of link between president obama and martin luther king make some people feel uncomfortable.

>> jennifer: i would say most people listening to this speech today would feel like this president has given them what they voted for. most people in the center and on the left, and maybe even some moderates in the middle. i know michael shure you were listening on the left coast what did you think about the president's speech and the whole ceremony? >> i was listening. the idea that this was the speech of we as john pointed out is not going to be lost on very many people. and not just stonewall, seneca falls, selma for black americans but one of the exercises in an inauguration like this as we made reference to people, liberals who haven't been happy with the president's first term was to imagine what this i would have been like if mitt romney were nominated president.

it echo a lot of the same themes as martin luther king saying i have a dream speech. mitt romney's speech would have been far different. if you are a liberal and if you grudgingly voted for the president today you show why. >> john: michael i thank you very much. i think it was most beautifully during the poet's beautiful peace, hope a new constellation, waiting for us to map it and name it together. is current's ongoing coverage of president obama's second inauguration term. we'll be back right after this. term, with campaigns trading attacks and pundits predicting, we go back to see the people and events that shaped the life of the unlikely man who would

become president. >>barack was having to work out the fact that people react to him based on his racial makeup. i felt he identified with other outsiders and that was a good story.

♪ >> jennifer: welcome back to current's coverage of barack obama's second inauguration. i'm here with john fugelsang and ehrlich bolelard from media matters, and what words will be transcendent, john? >> john: the lines that really shown out the most, that we the people, we believe that america's prosperity must rest upon the brood shoulders of a raising middle class.

that was the most moving, but our journey is not complete until all children from the streets of detroit to the quiet lanes of newtown know they are cared for and cherished. >> jennifer: absolutely. >> that was the one line -- >> jennifer: the newtown? >> yes. i think the reference to climate change will get a lot of notice, and the passing reference to gun violence. the state of the union will have to be beefed up if he is talking about gun violence, but including that i think it was an important piece of the speech. transcendent obviously the way these speeches go, it has been a long time since anyone remembered anything from these

inaugural addresses. but the reference to climate change and gun violence, that -- those were important to inclues. >> john: i want to ask you both if this speech was part one of a two-partner that will be included in the state of the union address? and we'll get into more specific policy in two weeks from now. do you agree. >> jennifer: yeah, and they have said that. this is step one, and step two will be the state of the union address. so me i thought that what was really -- i mean in the middle of the speech, he -- he evoked hope when he said a decade of war is now ending, an economic recovery has begun, america's possibilities are limit for we possess all of the qualities that this world without boundaries demands, youth,

drive, diversity and openness. and my fellow americans we are made for this moment, and we will seize it, so long as we seize it together. i love that he is calling for people and unity and hope. >> john: i would like to give props to the poet today. everyone heard the velvet underground started a ban, i would like to believe that everyone young person who heard that speech will begin their hand at speech. the first immigrant and first gay poet to give a speech there. a beautiful speech. >> jennifer: right the fact that he was called one, again, speaking to the theme of unity, but he too mentioned the 20 empty desks, where they were

marked absent, it was very -- i thought, a powerful, powerful reminder of what we have got to do ahead. >> and there is already chatter by the right-wing, it was too political, too partisan. references social security and medicare, things like that. so if they think this was partisan wait until the state of the union address. but fox news there are rules about what you are supposed to say, and barack obama broke them all. >> john: i would say one of the most powerful part of the speech, it does require us to act in our time. because when he said the word stonewall he could have been referring to the uprising or talking about mitch mcconnell. >> yes, and not confusing

absolutism with principle. he is making nice, light reference to the absolute radical obstructionism that he faces -- >> jennifer: or treat name calling as reasoned debate. fox news we're talking to you. >> yeah. >> john: the greatest humor moment was the look on eric cantor's face when he heard the word honest day. but what a great joy it has been to work by your side, jennifer granholm. >> jennifer: thank you. >> john: and i thank you for your service to this campaign. >> joy: thank you. obviously current is in transition, and this has been a tremendous gift to ride this election year along with you and others on current tv. it has been a great end to a fabulous, fabulous exercise in democracy.

we thank you all so much, and we'll see you back here tonight for our regular programs. ♪ [ cheers and applause ] barack to be the best in everything. >>as barack obama seeks a second term, with campaigns trading attacks and pundits predicting, we go back to see the people and events that shaped the life of the unlikely man who would become president. >>barack was having to work out the fact that people react to him based on his racial makeup. i felt he identified with other outsiders and that was a good story.